Alex Gordon (4) of the Kansas City Royals is congratulated by Drew Butera (9) at home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the 3rd inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on August 29, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri.

SAN DIEGO — There is no clear connection between Matt Holliday and journeyman catcher Drew Butera, except for this: both veterans are role players who have playoff experience, which is something the Rockies covet.

“There is an influence factor there that helps the guys around them,” manager Bud Black said Friday prior the Rockies’ game against the San Diego Padres. “Just the conversations prior to the games, in the dugouts, in the clubhouse, it can make a difference. There is a calmness they bring.”

Butera, 35, was acquired from the Kansas City Royals Friday, along with cash considerations, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jerry Vasto. Butera is scheduled to join the Rockies on Saturday when major-league rosters expand for September. Butera won’t supplant co-starters Chris Iannetta or Tony Wolters, but he will see some time behind the plate.

Holliday, 38, a seven-time all-star who went to the World Series with the Rockies in 2007 and won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 2011, was signed to a minor-league deal on July 29. He was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 23. He’s been getting occasional starts in left field and provides a power bat off the bench.

Butera, known for his defense and game-calling skills, has been the primary backup to Kansas City starter Salvador Perez for the past three seasons and brings nine years of big-league experience to Colorado’s roster. He played for the Royals’ 2015 World Series championship team.

“He’s a great game-caller, receiver, great baseball mind. He grew up in the game with his dad (Sal Butera, a former catcher),” Black said. “He brings a lot of intangibles. I got a lot of texts today, a lot of phone calls and voicemails about this fellow. He brings a lot of positives.”

But Butera brings very little pop to the plate, batting just .188 with nine doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs and 13 walks in 51 games with Kansas City this season. In 487 career games across parts of nine seasons, he’s batted .201, with 110 runs, 53 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs and 108 RBIs.

Vasto, 26, has spent most of the season at Triple-A, though he did make his big-league debut with the Rockies this season. He allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning vs. Arizona on June 10.

In 37 relief appearances at Albuquerque, Vasto was 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 18 walks. The Rockies drafted him the the 24th round of the 2014 draft out of Felician College.

Gray is coming off a bumpy start against the Angels in which he allowed five runs on seven hits with no walks across 6 ⅔ innings. Uncharacteristically, he had just one punch out. Though the Rockies lost, Gray received a no-decision. Gray served up a three-run home run to Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning and a solo blast to Mike Trout in the sixth. Prior to that game, Gray had been on a solid run, going 4-0 with a 3.05 ERA from June 22-Aug. 22 as Colorado won nine consecutive games with Gray on the hill. The right-hander is 7-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 14 career starts vs. San Diego. Erlin, who began the season in the bullpen, will be making his eighth start of the season. He’s performed well against the Rockies in six appearances (one start), posting a 2.61 ERA and holding the Rockies to a .205 batting average. In his last start, the Dodgers pounded Erlin for four runs on eight hits over 4 ⅔ innings.

Rockies all-star shortstop crushed his 100th career homer against the Orioles Friday night at Coors Field. The blast was a mammoth shot that had some history behind it as Story is now the fasted shortstop on MLB history to 100 home runs.